Record-breaking temperatures were forecast to drive historic power demands in California, making rotating outages increasingly likely.
Author: John Bacon and Celina Tebor, USA TODAY
Russia blames sabotage for ‘state of emergency’ in Crimea, sees ‘no need’ for nuclear weapons in Ukraine: Live updates
Explosions ripped through Crimea, forcing evacuation of 3,000 residents as the Ukraine war appears to be spreading to the peninsula. Updates.
Death toll of Ukrainian children reaches 361; WNBA star Brittney Griner appeals drug sentence: Ukraine updates
More than 1,000 Ukraine children have been killed or wounded as Russian troops continue pounding cities and towns with a barrage of missiles.
Russian munition blast rocks Crimea: ‘No harm done, we exhale and go to the beach.’ Live Ukraine updates
Munitions storage facilities exploded Tuesday near the Russian-held Saki airfield in Crimea, the Russian Defense Ministry confirmed.: Live updates.
Vaccination a major benefit for expectant mothers, new studies show; U.S. death rate may finally start falling: Live COVID updates
Most states are reporting fewer deaths than they had been a week ago, a USA TODAY analysis of Johns Hopkins University data shows. Latest COVID news.
WHO official sees ‘plausible endgame’ to pandemic; Super Bowl attendees urged to wear masks: COVID updates
The director of the World Health Organization’s Europe office said Thursday the continent is entering a “plausible endgame” to the pandemic.
Boosted Americans 97 times less likely to die of virus than unvaccinated; CDC predicts 75,000 more deaths by Feb. 26: Live COVID-19 updates
Army commanders have been ordered to begin discharging unvaccinated soldiers with no approved or pending exemption request. Latest COVID news.
Omicron not peaking nationally yet, surgeon general says; Djokovic leaves Australia after losing appeal: COVID-19 updates
The COVID-19 omicron variant is not peaking in the United States yet, according to Surgeon General Vivek Murthy. Follow the latest updates.
New infections shatter single-day record with over 1 million cases; FDA OKs Pfizer booster for 12- to 15-year-olds: COVID updates
The FDA gave the thumbs-up to a third dose of the Pfizer vaccine for kids 12 to 15. Latest COVID news.
CDC cuts isolation time for Americans who test positive from 10 days to 5. Latest COVID-19 updates
Health officials also reduced the amount of time one should quarantine after coming into contact with someone who tests positive for COVID. Updates.